Must you work for a living?

This is a truly trick question because it has two answers that differ depending on the country in which you live and the economic system it employs. In the United States, the answer is no. Children cannot work. The elderly cannot compete with youth for the few jobs that are available in a society where people claim to be free and their government decides who gets what and how much through the tax code and then steals from those who work to support those who do not through welfare payments.
Government’s sole function is the defense of their citizens lives, their freedoms and their property. This is the police power, given by people in a society to find and punish those who steal the lives, freedoms and property of others. If you don’t believe me read the Ten Commandments, or even your own state and federal constitutions. The punishment must be severe enough to deter those who wish to perpetrate such acts. In the law laid down by God to Moses, that punishment was death by stoning and the rules were the Ten Commandments.
Those on Social Security, Medicare, Aid to Dependent Children and the myriads of other government welfare programs both state and federal are financed through taxes and borrowing. Government workers and employees of companies whose sole customer is the government do not pay but a fraction of what they get in retirement benefits and these benefits are far more than needed to sustain life.
Where does this money come from? There are two sources, taxes on the wages and salaries of current workers but most of it comes from the printing of currency and then borrowing from the banks who then distribute it.
Germany started this practice after World War I because raising the taxes of current employees cost the politicians who ran the country their jobs. The consequence was rampant inflation of Germany’s currency. Their debt was the reparations extracted by the non-American allies in the peace treaty that ended the war. It was to pay for the damage done. To say that it was excessive was not only proven by the amount, but the time frame in which to pay it.
America’s debt, now approaching $20 trillion, is not for the replacement of assets but for the ongoing livelihood of a portion of its population. All those working for the government or on government welfare or subsidy. By printing money, the government has been in this situation since the early part of the twentieth century. The rate is about 3% per year and can be evidenced by the fact that it now costs nearly $24 to buy what $1 did in 1914.
It is a characteristic of an economy whose measure varies over time but when issued is not consumed but accumulates, making the value of the earlier currency issued decline. It is a system that is doomed to fail. The timing of that failure will occur when the value of the currency being issued is insufficient to provide for the necessities of life and collapse completely when the number of people requiring kcal to survive equals its production.
My book, The Real Economy, explains why this system fails and sets out an alternative that will prolong man’s presence on earth. My latest book, The Constitution-A Document Steeped in History and a Compromise Devoid of Promise explains how the politicians have attempted to deter the inevitable but have actually accelerated it. It was Thomas Malthus, who in the 1700s, theorized that overpopulation would be the cause of man’s disappearance from the earth. It is now possible, with reasonable accuracy, when this will occur. It is already being evidenced by the mass migrations from Africa, the Middle East and South and Central America.

Well, if you have a) worked for the federal government, b) worked for the state government, c) worked for a local police department, or d) worked in the mailroom in Wisconsin in the Army... then... after the age of 42, no. You don't have to work. Ever again.

And, as an interesting aside, in just a couple of days, I've met people who ARE working.. they make $60k, $120k, or more per year, and they receive VA disability benefits. So. Someone making over $120k per year in a job... is somehow "disabled"... and I have to give them my money. Even though I make less than they do annually.

Its a bit confusing.

How do you feel about that?

Before you answer, I just recently met a guy. He was in the Navy for 2 years in the 70s. He fell down a ladder. After working his whole life, this year the VA gave him $300,000 in VA retroactive disability benefits. For something that happened in his 2 year of service. Almost 50 years ago. You cool with that?

It is very difficult to process a current claim with the VA, never mind one that is almost 50 years old. In order to prevail, he must have had a valid claim, and the very tough and thorough claim process recognized the validity. He obviously received what he deserved, and what the law allows.

Many in Lewiston get monthly checks for doing nothing, and have done nothing. You cool with that?